Jagmohan Dalmiya all set to return as BCCI President

Jagmohan Dalmiya is all set to return as president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today.

Jagmohan Dalmiya. Pic/AFP

After hectic back room meetings over the last couple of days, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) boss emerged as the most preferred candidate to head the richest cricket board in the world.

Dalmiya, who headed the International Cricket Council from 1997 to 2000, will be elected unopposed after Mumbai Cricket Association chief Sharad Pawar and Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association head Anurag Thakur failed to get a proposer and seconder from the East Zone.

N Srinivasan's group were looking for a strong candidate for the top spot after the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association boss was stopped by the Supreme Court from contesting due to the conflict of interest issue.

Dalmiya, who has two crucial votes in today's Annual General Meeting, was the frontrunner as he was elected as interim BCCI chief after Srinivasan was forced to step aside during IPL spot fixing and betting scandal in 2013.

CAB Joint Secretary Subir Ganguly told mid-day: "We are very happy that Mr Dalmiya will be back as Board president. As it was East Zone's turn to nominate, we did not want to let go of this chance. However, it was his clean image and rich experience that made him the favourite. Under Mr Dalmiya's leadership the Board will soar to new heights."

It is learnt that Thakur was also keen on the president's post , but he too like Pawar could not convince East Zone members, who are completely backing Srinivasan's group.

Thakur will now contest from Pawar's group against Sanjay Patel for the secretary's post. A Pawar camp member claimed they managed to get Rajeev Shukla (Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association) and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) members/Associations on their side, leaving Srinivasan with his East Zone loyalists and a few other members.For the treasurer's post Anirudh Chaudhary from Srinivasan's camp will contest against Shukla.

The Dalmiya years

1979: Joined the BCCI fold

1983: Became BCCI treasurer 1987 and 1996 World Cups: Was responsible for India getting the staging rights

1997: Unanimously elected President of the ICC, a post which he held for three years

2005: Witnessed the defeat of his loyalist Ranbir Singh Mahendra who lost the BCCI president's post to Sharad Pawar

2006: Expelled from the BCCI for alleged misappropriation of funds

2007: Exonerated as BCCI could not prove allegations of financial irregularities

2013: Appointed interim president of the BCCI in June after N Srinivasan had to step aside due to his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan's involvement in betting during the 2013 Indian Premier League. By October that year, Srinivasan was back